On Wednesday afternoon, President Trump announced a pardon for 63-year-old Alice Marie Johnson after mega-celebrity Kim Kardashian met with him at the White House and presented her case for clemency.
So grateful to @realDonaldTrump, Jared Kushner & to everyone who has showed compassion & contributed countless hours to this important moment for Ms. Alice Marie Johnson. Her commutation is inspirational & gives hope to so many others who are also deserving of a second chance.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2018
President Trump has also said he may fully pardon or commute the sentences of disgraced and imprisoned Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Convicted felon Martha Stewart is also on his radar.
“There’s another one that I’m thinking about. Rod Blagojevich. Eighteen years in jail for being stupid and saying things that every other politician, you know that many other politicians say, " Trump said last week onboard Air Force One after pardoning conservative filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza. "I don’t know him other than that he was on The Apprentice for a short period of time. Eighteen years is I think really unfair. It’s a Democrat. You know D’Souaz's a Republican. And I’m seriously thinking about it...not pardoning – but I am seriously thinking of a curtailment [commutation] of Blagojevich...And he’s a Democrat. He’s not my party. But I thought that he was treated unfairly."
"There are others," he continued. "I think to a certain extent Martha Stewart was harshly and unfairly treated. And she used to be my biggest fan in the world...before I became a politician. But that’s okay I don’t view it that way."
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It turns out this idea, at least for Blagojevich, has some unexpected supporters. Democrat Senator Dick Durbin, who like Blagojevich is from Illinois and former Attorney General Eric Holder.
NEW: @SenatorDurbin and former Obama AG @EricHolder both say they support commuting Rod Blagojevich's sentence.
— Geoff Bennett (@GeoffRBennett) June 4, 2018
Holder: "I thought that sentence was a little harsh."
Durbin: "If there's a way to reduce the sentence for him and his family, I would support it."
Be sure to check out the case against a pardon for Blagojevich, here.
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